denney



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. DBNNEY. VAGUUMBNGINB.

No. 495,243. y Patented Apr. 1l, 1893.

W/ TNE SSE S M65/WUR BY Y a ATTOH Y.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. DENNEY.

A VAGUUMBNGINB. No. 495,243. Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

w/NEssEs IN1/ENZO@ BY l. 0

- ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. DENNEY. VACUUM ENGINE.

Patented Apr. 11, 1893.`

INVENTOH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARMER DENNEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VACUUM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 495,243, dated April 11, 1893.

Application led April 19, 1892. Serial No. 429,744. (No model.)

The object of my invention is to simplify the construction of the machine so as to reduce .its cost and its liability to get out of order, and also to faciliate an easy adjustment in combining the parts.

The invention consists in a vacuum-engine havingapower-cylinder, provided with an upward extension, which upward extension is surrounded by a condenser, which in turn is in communication with the vacuum-pump, that is operated directly from the piston in said cylinder and its extension.

The invention also consists in the combination, with a generator, of brackets on the same, a power-cylinder and condenser surrounding the same, supported on said brackets, and a crank-shaft driven from the piston in said cylinder, which crank-shaft is also mounted on said brackets.

The invention also consists in the construction and combination of parts and details which will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side-view of my improved Vacuum engine, parts being broken out and others in section. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, parts being broken out and others in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the cylinder and condenser surrounding the same, and of the piston in the cylinder. Fig. 4 is a top view of the cylinder and condenser, the top plate being removed. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the piston and the arm on the same. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bottom supporting plate for the condenser, parts being brokenV out and others being in section. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the under side ot' the supportplate for the condenser. Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the vacuum pump. Fig. 9 is a sectional plan-view of the same, on the line 9 9, of Fig. 8. Fig. l0 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the lower part of the cylinder and the rocking controlling valve. Fig. ll is a 'sectional View, on line 1l--1l, Fig. 10. Fig. 12 isa face view of the spring washer of the rocking controlling valve.

Similar letters of reference indicate lcorresponding parts.

In the drawings A A2 A3 are the three sections of the steam-generator.

C is an extension supporting a smoke-liuc C.

B4 is a ring projecting upward from the top of the generator and B3 is a safety-valve.

D is a water-box at the side of the generator and D3 is a pipe leading to the same.

A4 is the base of the generator.

On the front end of the generator two vertical brackets E are bolted so as to project a greater or less distance from said frgnt end of the generator. Between said brackets E the condenser F is located, which is provided with two side-wings F that are bolted to the fronts of the brackets E, for the purpose of supporting said condenser.

The condenser consists of a cylinder cast integral with the annular heads F2, each providedwith an annular groove Gr, which grooves G of the top and bottom heads F2 are connected by a series. of tubes H arranged within the condenserand parallel to the longitudinal axis of the same. In each annular groove G two radial projections G2 are formed a greater or less distance from each other, and form a separate compartment G3, which compartments G3 of the topand bottom head are also connected With'each other by some kof the pipes H, as mentioned. The cylinder I forms the inner annular wall of the condenser and also forms a guide for the cylindrical piston J, the lower part of which Works in the cylinder K cast integral with the topplate K that is bolted to the bottom-head F2 of the condenser. Said top-plate K of the cylinder K is provided with a hollow bracketV K2 having a top opening K3 for the bottom of the vacuum pump, to be described hereinaffter, and also having a top opening K4, which `is in communication with the bottornannular groove G of the bottom-head F? of the condenser F. 'Ihe cylindrical piston J is formed IOO with the top and bottom heads J and J2, which are screwed into the cylindrical portion, the top head havinga cylindrical eXtension J 3 that projects above the top of the cylinder I when the said cylindrical piston is in its lowest position. A top-plate L, in which a leather packing ring L is held, is fastened to the top head F2 of the condenser', the inner edge of said leather packing ring L resting against the outer surface of the upper projecting part of the cylindrical piston J, so as to form a Vclose joint. the cylindrical piston J is provided with an upwardly-projecting standard M, from the top of which an arm M projects laterally and with said arm h/ the piston rod M2 of a vacuum pump M3 is connected, that rests upon the end of the hollow bracket K2 of the cylinder K. The vacuum pump M3 is provided with the check Valve M4 and with the upper outlet neck M5. The piston J is also connected at or near its upper end by a suitable connecting-rod N with a crank N of a crank-shaft N2, which shaft is mounted in the upper extensions of the brackets E. On one end of said shaft a fly-wheel N3 is xed, and the opposite end carries a disk N4, which disk is connected eccentrically by a connecting-rod 0 with the arm O fixed on the stem P of a conical hollow valve P mounted to rock in the conoidal seat of a valve casing Q having the opposite necks Q and Q2. The neck Q is connected by a curved pipe R with the top of the steam generator, and the neck Q2 is connected by the curved pipe S with the bottom annular groove G of the condenser, as shown at g in Fig. 6. The conoidal rocking-valve P is closed at its larger outer end and is open at the smaller inner end, and has two slots or ports T T, which are a quadrant from each other. A dished springU is arranged between the closed wider end of the conoidal valve and the cap Q3 screwedon the casing Q, so as to exert a gentle but constant pressure on the conoidal valve and to hold the same close against its seat. A channel leads from the seat of the conoidal valve to the bottom part of the cylinder K, as shown in Fig. 10. Awater pump W is supported by a bracket W from the side of the condenser and is connected with the suction pipe W2, and through the bracket W the water is forced into the condenser and passes out from the same through the pipe V. X is the outlet pipe of the vacu um pump.

The operation is as followsz-To start the engine, the iiy-wheel is turned'one or more times. Every time that the piston makes an upward stroke, steam is admitted into the cylinder, and when the piston has completed its upward stroke, the valve P is in such a position asto establish communication through the channel m and the pipe S with the condenser, in which condenser there is a vacuum. The steam immediately passes from the cylinder into the condenser, whereby a vacuum is created in the cylinder, permitting the air- The upperY head J ofVVV pressure to force the cylinder downward. The piston is then raised by the impetus of the fly-Wheel and again steam is admitted into the cylinder' and again passes into the vacuum-chamber and so on. The valve P oscillates and alternately establishes communication between the cylinder and steam-supply pipe and the cylinder and steam condenser. The water raised by the pump W passes through the condenser and keeps the pipes -of the same cool, so that the steam is condensed instantly in said wcondenser. The pump M3 which is connected with the bottom part of the condenser pumps the water of condensation out of the same, thus keeping the condenser free from water. Pressure of the steam is not called upon to act in this machine. All that the steam is required for, is to fill the cylinder when the piston is in raised position, to be then condensed for producing a Vacuum, and thus the steam is required only as a vacuum-producer. The pump can easily be stopped Whenever desired by simply supplying sufficient friction to the Iiywheel to stop the same. As the pressure of the steam is not called into action, there is no danger of an explosion, and this is furthermore prevented bya safety-valve B3 which is s o weighted as to rise, as soon as there is a slight pressure in the generator.

The machine is entirely automatic and rc1 quires no attention, further than keeping thev nre provided with a sufficient fuel and the tire-doors in proper position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a vacuum engine, the combination with a cylinder, of a condenser upon the cylinder, which condenser has a central bore that forms a continuation of the cylinder, a piston working in said cylinder, the length of which piston is greater than the length of the cylinder proper, a pipe for conducting steam into the lower part of said cylinder, a valve in said pipe, a shaft driven from the piston in the cylinder and means for operating said valve from said shaft, substantially as Vset forth.

2. In a vacuum-engine, the combination, with a steam-cylinder, of an upward extension on the same, a condenser surrounding said upward extension, a cylindrical piston IOO IIO

IZO

in said cylinder and extension, and arm on said piston, and a vacuum pump operated by said arm, substantially as set forth.

3. In a vacuum-engine, the combination, with a steam-cylinder having a hollowbracket,

of a condenser placed on said cylinder and y A' the same, the central tube of the condenser forming an extension of the cylinder, a piston in said cylinder and extension, a cylindrical piece on the upper end of the piston, a leather packing ring resting upon the top plate of the condenser, the inner edge of said ring resting against the outer surface of the cylindrical piston and its top cylindrical piece, substantially as set forth.

5. In a vacuum-engine, the combination, with a steam-cylinder, of an upward extension on the same, heads on the end of said extension, tubes secured in said heads, a channel formed in each head for bringing the ends of the tubes in communication, and a vacuum-pump in communication with said tubes and channels, substantially as set forth.

6. In a vacuum-engine, the`l combination, with a steam-cylinder, of a condenser on the same, a cylindrical-piston working in the central tube of the condenser and in the steamcylinder, and avacuum-pump in communication with the condenser and supported on the steam cylinder, substantially as set forth.

7. In a vacuum-engine, the combination, with a steam-generator, of brackets on the same, a power-cylinder, a condenser surrounding the same, which power-cylinder and condenser are supported on the brackets, and a crank-shaft driven from the power-cylinder also supported in said brackets, substantially as set forth.

9. In a vacuum-engine, the combination,

with a steam-generator, formed of a bottom section, intermediate section and top section, brackets on the top section, a cylinder and condenser surrounding the same, and supported by said brackets and a crank-shaft also supported on said brackets, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with a power-cylinder having an upward extension, of a condenser surrounding said extension, a pump driven from a piston in the power-cylinder and in the extension, said pump being connected by a channel with the condenser, so as to deliver its water into the condenser, and a pipe for taking the water from the condenser, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have-signed my name in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

I-IARMER DENNEY.

Witnesses: v

OSCAR F.- GUNZ, CHARLES SCHROEDER. 

